1. On the occasion of the publication: Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Himawari Tourism Association

Hokuryu Town Tourism Association 50th Anniversary

We are now looking back over the past 50 years and publishing the "Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association 50th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine." We would like to express our deepest respect and gratitude to the mayor and all those involved for their cooperation.

Our association was established in 1972. At the time, the main activity of the tourism association was hosting the Konpira Park Cherry Blossom Festival, which was held until the 22nd festival in 1991.

The first Sunflower Festival, which is now the main project of our association, was held at Hokuryu Agricultural Cooperative in 1987, and has now been held 37 times as of this year. The Sunflower Festival has now grown to attract more than 200,000 tourists every year, and this has been made possible thanks to the efforts of our members, including our successive officers, as well as the great understanding and cooperation of the townspeople.

Tourism needs have also changed significantly as lifestyles have changed due to the impact of COVID-19. One major change during the pandemic has been remote work, but new travel styles have also emerged, such as working while traveling, and the ways in which we interact with people and local communities are becoming more diverse. Going forward, it will likely become even more important to be involved in multifaceted urban development that is close to people and society. We fully recognize the importance of this and intend to further promote tourism.

In closing, I would like to offer my heartfelt wishes for the health and prosperity of all those involved, and conclude my speech on the occasion of our 50th anniversary.